Last year, my best friend surprised her niece and nephew with a trip to Walt Disney World Resort. She went all out, even making an advent-style countdown full of Mickey ornaments, Cinderella stickers, and MagiClip dolls. To be honest, I think she was more excited than they were! And that’s what I love about Disney World; whether you’re 5 or 35, you’re going to have a blast. I mean, her 5-year-old niece was obsessed with meeting Snow White and the newest Disney princess, Elena of Avalor, but her 8-year-old nephew was all about Star Wars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He (and my friend’s husband) were freaking out over the Star Wars show because it’s one of the newest, hottest attractions at Disney World; they knew they’d get to go home and brag about it with their friends. Yeah, both of them.

One of the coolest things about Disney World is that even though they’ve got the classic rides like Space Mountain and it’s a small world, there’s always something new and fabulous being unveiled at one of Disney World’s four theme parks. Personally, I’m quite partial to the fireworks and pyrotechnics but I know my daughter would die of happiness if she met Elsa and Anna in the new attraction themed to the village of Arendelle. So, no matter where you’re interests lie, I’ve put together a list of the absolute coolest new things to do and see. Go ahead and check it out!

Alex Richards is a Brooklyn-based young adult writer with a background in photography and television production. She loves making no-budget horror flicks with her friends, cooking, crafting, exploring, and being silly with her two kids, awesome husband, and lazy cats. In addition to her young adult novel, Back Talk, Alex writes for New York Family Magazine, and works with ASAP, a South African organization supporting rural communities of women caring for vulnerable children.